“Illmatic” vs. “The Chronic”

It’s a decades-old debate, New York vs. Los Angeles or East vs. West. This debate has been raging in the rap world for decades, now there is no concrete winner between the two. Infamously, this debate was one factor of the personal Biggie vs. Tupac feud of the ‘90s that has continued to be a heated debate amongst rap fans ever since their passing.  

To do a full comparison of rap music from both coasts, it would take a lot more, regardless there will be no concrete answer over which coast has the better rap music.   

Instead, two marquee albums from both coasts will be put head-to-head to decide which coast (at least in this case) wins the faceoff. Those two albums are Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic,” one of the most influential albums of all time and launched the West Coast g-funk craze of the ‘90s, and Nas’s “Illmatic,” the gritty, lyrical, ten-track debut from one of the greatest rappers New York has ever produced.  

The reason behind picking these two albums is because both have been considered by some the greatest rap albums of all time. They are not the only albums from either coast that have been considered or have made that claim, but their content and what they represent for New York and Los Angeles, respectively, do make them comparable in symbolism if nothing else. These two albums will be graded upon lyrics, production, influence and sales. The album that edges out most of the categories wins.  

1. Lyrics  

This category, in my opinion, is a win for “Illmatic.” This is expected though. Dr. Dre’s strengths have always lied in the production side of rap rather than the lyrics. Not to say Dre doesn’t have standout verses, his performance on “Nuthin’ but a ‘G’ Thang” may be his strongest lyrical offering ever, and Snoop Dogg’s flow and lyrics on this album was a launchpad for what has become one of the most successful rap careers ever.   

However, Nas is on an entirely different level with his wordplay. His metaphors, such as “I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death” has become one of the most legendary line of lyrics in the history of rap, and the entire “N.Y. State of Mind” track is a lyrical masterpiece. AZ’s feature on “Life’s a B*tch” is often regarded as one of the greatest verses in the history of rap. “The Chronic” does not lack lyrical quality but features from R&B artists Warren G and Nate Dogg give the album more of a diverse feel than just a rap album. For Nas however, the lyrics were first and foremost. Nas wins this category.  

2. Production  

This is almost unfair, “Illmatic” features dark, gritty instrumentals and verses paint a picture with Nas’s lyrics to make listeners see his home of Queensbridge, New York. “Illmatic” has arguably the best overall production from any Nas album, even to this day. However, “The Chronic” is just ethereal with its production. It kicked off an entire subgenre of rap music for the West Coast and although “Illmatic” is no slouch when it comes to instrumentals, it just doesn’t have the groundbreaking production that “The Chronic” has. Dr. Dre wins for production.  

3. Influence  

This is the most difficult category to determine a winner. Despite Dr. Dre creating an entire subgenre with his album that was utilized by legends such as Tupac, Eminem, Nate Dogg and Warren G, Nas inspired an entire generation of potential lyricists with “Illmatic.” Artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Bishop Nehru, Jay Rock, Killer Mike, J. Cole and ScHoolboy Q are all artists that have credited Nas and “Illmatic” as being important influences on their careers. The influences of both these projects are so wide and encompassing, both extending beyond their geographical regions, that it is impossible to call it. This category is a tie.  

4. Sales  

Thankfully, this category is cut-and-dry. “The Chronic” has sold 5.7 million copies as of 2015, whereas “Illmatic” has sold 2 million copies as of 2019. “The Chronic” wins this category.  

Verdict  

With a score of 2-1-1, Dr. Dre’s “The Chronic” wins the album face-off against Nas’s “Illmatic.” This head-to-head doesn’t settle the debate of East Coast vs. West Coast, not by any means, and either album can be considered better than the other based on the individual listening. Both albums are indisputable classics and have legitimate claims as the greatest rap album of all time. For me, however, “The Chronic,” ever-so-slightly, edges out “Illmatic.”  

Teren Kowatsch can be reached at [email protected]